Houston Jury Finds Negligence, Awards $18,000 in Red-Light Crash
A passenger in a vehicle was traveling on a highway when the driver of another vehicle ran a red light and caused a collision. The passenger's vehicle rolled several times and landed on its roof. The passenger claimed neck and back injuries, including herniated discs, and mental anguish. The defense noted the fetus the passenger was carrying appeared fine and was born healthy. The jury awarded damages for past medical costs and pain and suffering.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Cervical Disc Injury Injuries
Cervical disc injuries involve damage to the intervertebral discs in the neck region (C1-C7). These injuries can include herniated discs, bulging discs, and disc degeneration accelerated by trauma.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $18,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2015
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Cervical Disc Injury
- Accident Type
- Multi-vehicle
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Negligence
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $18,000 is below the median of $40,000 for cervical disc injury cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $18,000 to $100,000, based on 250 cases in our database.
Case Overview
On May 16, 2010, a vehicle carrying a passenger was struck by a stolen vehicle that ran a red light on a feeder road in Houston, Texas. The impact caused the passenger's vehicle to roll multiple times before resting on its roof, leaving the passenger upside down. The occupants of the stolen vehicle fled the scene on foot.
The plaintiff, who was three months pregnant, traveled to the emergency room by ambulance and later claimed to have sustained herniated discs in her neck and back, along with bursitis in her right hip. She underwent treatment with chiropractors and an orthopedic surgeon, who administered a steroid injection. The plaintiff also sought damages for mental anguish, citing concerns for her unborn baby, though medical professionals assured her the fetus appeared healthy, and the baby was later born healthy.
The plaintiff subsequently sued her uninsured motorist insurer, Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co., for benefits related to her injuries. The defendant stipulated to the negligence of the driver of the stolen vehicle but noted that the emergency room doctor and OB-GYN had found the fetus to be in good health. The defendant was also entitled to a $2,500 credit for personal injury protection benefits previously paid.
Following a two-day trial, a jury in Houston, Texas, awarded the plaintiff $18,000 for past medical costs and past pain and suffering. After the application of the $2,500 credit, the plaintiff's net recovery amounted to $15,500.
Understanding This Case
- Many cervical disc injuries improve with conservative treatment. However, about 30% of cases may require surgical intervention, with varying degrees of permanent impairment.
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Harris County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2015, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome is within expected ranges
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
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